New King James Version

English Standard Version

1My son, if you become surety for your friend, If you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger,

1My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, have given your pledge for a stranger,

2You are snared by the words of your mouth; You are taken by the words of your mouth.

2if you are snared in the words of your mouth, caught in the words of your mouth,

3So do this, my son, and deliver yourself; For you have come into the hand of your friend: Go and humble yourself; Plead with your friend.

3then do this, my son, and save yourself, for you have come into the hand of your neighbor: go, hasten, and plead urgently with your neighbor.

4Give no sleep to your eyes, Nor slumber to your eyelids.

4Give your eyes no sleep and your eyelids no slumber;

5Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, And like a bird from the hand of the fowler.

5save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the hand of the fowler.

6Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise,

6Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.

7Which, having no captain, Overseer or ruler,

7Without having any chief, officer, or ruler,

8Provides her supplies in the summer, And gathers her food in the harvest.

8she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.

9How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep?

9How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep?

10A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep—

10A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,

11So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, And your need like an armed man.

11and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.

12A worthless person, a wicked man, Walks with a perverse mouth;

12A worthless person, a wicked man, goes about with crooked speech,

13He winks with his eyes, He shuffles his feet, He points with his fingers;

13winks with his eyes, signals with his feet, points with his finger,

14Perversity is in his heart, He devises evil continually, He sows discord.

14with perverted heart devises evil, continually sowing discord;

15Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly; Suddenly he shall be broken without remedy.

15therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly; in a moment he will be broken beyond healing.

16These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:

16There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him:

17A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood,

17haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

18A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil,

18a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil,

19A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.

19a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.

20My son, keep your father’s command, And do not forsake the law of your mother.

20My son, keep your father’s commandment, and forsake not your mother’s teaching.

21Bind them continually upon your heart; Tie them around your neck.

21Bind them on your heart always; tie them around your neck.

22When you roam, they will lead you; When you sleep, they will keep you; And when you awake, they will speak with you.

22When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you.

23For the commandment is a lamp, And the law a light; Reproofs of instruction are the way of life,

23For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,

24To keep you from the evil woman, From the flattering tongue of a seductress.

24to preserve you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress.

25Do not lust after her beauty in your heart, Nor let her allure you with her eyelids.

25Do not desire her beauty in your heart, and do not let her capture you with her eyelashes;

26For by means of a harlot A man is reduced to a crust of bread; And an adulteress will prey upon his precious life.

26for the price of a prostitute is only a loaf of bread, but a married woman hunts down a precious life.

27Can a man take fire to his bosom, And his clothes not be burned?

27Can a man carry fire next to his chest and his clothes not be burned?

28Can one walk on hot coals, And his feet not be seared?

28Or can one walk on hot coals and his feet not be scorched?

29So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife; Whoever touches her shall not be innocent.

29So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife; none who touches her will go unpunished.

30People do not despise a thief If he steals to satisfy himself when he is starving.

30People do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his appetite when he is hungry,

31Yet when he is found, he must restore sevenfold; He may have to give up all the substance of his house.

31but if he is caught, he will pay sevenfold; he will give all the goods of his house.

32Whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding; He who does so destroys his own soul.

32He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself.

33Wounds and dishonor he will get, And his reproach will not be wiped away.

33He will get wounds and dishonor, and his disgrace will not be wiped away.

34For jealousy is a husband’s fury; Therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.

34For jealousy makes a man furious, and he will not spare when he takes revenge.

35He will accept no recompense, Nor will he be appeased though you give many gifts.

35He will accept no compensation; he will refuse though you multiply gifts.

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.